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By admin: Jan. 18, 2023

‘Naanera’ bags ‘Golden Kailasha’ award in Ajanta-Ellora film festival

Tags: Awards

A Rajasthani film "Nanera" directed by Dipankar Prakash was awarded the 'Golden Kailasha' award for the best film at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.

An overview of the news

  • The Rajasthani film Nanera (Nanaji's house) revolves around the main character Manish.

  • After the death of Manish's father, his maternal uncle starts taking decisions about his life.

  • The life of Manish, the main character of the story, takes a new turn when he falls in love with his cousin. Because of this, his family finds themselves in trouble.

  • 'Nanera' has also received the award for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing.

  • The award was announced by N Vidyashankar, jury member of FIPRESCI (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique The International Federation of Film Critics) India. 

  • Under the award for the best film, 'Nanera' was given a trophy and a cash prize of one lakh rupees. 

  • The eighth edition of the film festival was organised in Aurangabad from 11 to 15 January.

  • Apart from this, Akshata Pandavapura of Kannada film 'Koli Isru' (Chicken Curry) won the Best Child Artist and Best Actress award.

  • The film revolves around a young mother in a village who must somehow fulfill her daughter's desire to eat chicken curry.

  • Jeetu Kamal was awarded the best actor award for the Bengali film 'Aparajito' at the film festival.

  • 55 films were screened in this five-day film festival.


World’s oldest person, Lucile Randon dies at the age of 118

Tags: Person in news International News

World's oldest person, Lucile Randon, died on 17 January at the age of 118.

An overview of the news

  • Ms Randon, who was known as Sister André, died in her sleep at her nursing home in Toulon, France.

  • She was born on 11 February, 1904 in Southern France.

  • Despite being blind and dependent on a wheelchair, Andre took care of other elderly people.

  • In the year 2022, the world's oldest person Ken Tanaka of Japan died. He was 119 years old.

  • After Tanaka's death, 118-year-old Sister Lucille Randon became the oldest person in the world.

  • Guinness World Records had officially recognised her status in April 2022.

  • Randon became a Catholic when she was 19 years old. Eight years later she became a nun.


Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System launched by MeitY

Tags: Environment Science and Technology

The Secretary, MeitY, Alkesh Kumar Sharma has launched the Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0) developed under MeitY supported projects on 17 January in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

  • Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata has developed an outdoor air quality monitoring station in collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad.

  • It has been developed under the 'National Program on Electronics and ICT Applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)'.

  • It will monitor environmental pollutants which include parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity etc. for continuous air quality analysis of the environment.

  • The transfer of technology (ToT) was done at MeitY, New Delhi in which a ToT agreement has been signed between Senior Director & Centre Head, C-DAC, Kolkata and Dr. Deepa Taneja, CEO, J.M.EnviroLab Private Limited.


Bill tabled in US House to terminate Pakistan's status as Major Non-NATO ally

Tags: International News

A US lawmaker has introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives that would end Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally and require annual certification from the President with certain conditions for Islamabad to be granted such a designation.

An overview of the news

  • The bill said that giving such a status to Pakistan would require annual certification from the President, subject to certain conditions.

  • The bill was introduced by Andy Biggs, who represents Arizona's Fifth District.

  • The bill has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary action.

  • It will need to be passed by the House and Senate before the US President can sign it into law.

  • Pakistan has always been giving shelter to terrorism in its country. Therefore, the US MP has introduced this bill.

  • The bill states that Pakistan will have to prove that it has shown speed in action against senior leaders of the Haqqani network in its country and is conducting military operations against them.

  • The US President's Office will certify Pakistan regarding this.

Major Non-NATO ally

  • Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States to close allies that have strategic working relationships with the US Armed Forces. 

  • They are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

  • Major non-NATO allies are eligible for loans related to material, supplies or equipment for research, development, test or evaluation purposes.

18 major non-NATO allies

  • Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia.

  • In September 2022, the US terminated the designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally.


First G20 Health Working Group Meeting begins in Thiruvananthapuram

Tags: National News

The first G-20 Health Working Group (HWG) meeting under India’s G-20 presidency began on 18 January at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. This meeting will be held from January 18 to 20, 2023.

An overview of the news

  • These HWG meetings will be held in various places in the country including Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Goa, Hyderabad in Telangana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

  • It will highlight PM Modi's call to showcase India's rich and diverse cultures.

  • The meeting will be attended by representatives of G-20 member states, special invitees and relevant international organisations.

  • India is currently part of the G-20 Troika which refers to the top grouping within the G-20 which includes countries like Indonesia, Brazil and India.

  • This is the first time that three developing countries are part of this troika.

  • Under the presidency of India, the G-20 health track will include four Health Working Group (HWG) meetings and a Health Ministerial Meeting (HMM).

Three priorities for achieving India's G-20 Presidency mission 

  1. Prevention, preparedness and response to health emergencies (with a focus on health and AMR).

  2. Strengthening Cooperation in Pharmaceutical Sector with an emphasis on Access and Availability to safe, effective, quality and Affordable Medical Countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics).  

  3. Digital Health Innovations and Solutions to Aid Universal Health Coverage and Improve Healthcare Service Delivery.


K. Venu was awarded the Federal Bank Literary Award 2022

Tags: Awards

In January 2023, renowned author K Venu was awarded the Federal Bank Literary Award 2022 for his autobiography 'Oarnavashanthinte Katha'.

An Overview of the news

  • Mr. Venu received the award from Balagopal Chandrasekhar, Chairman and Independent Director, Federal Bank, at a special event organised as part of the Kerala Literature Festival.

  • 10 works were selected for this award. The gist of this book brings back one of the most profound political memories in Kerala's modern history.

Federal Bank Literary Award

  • This is the first literary award instituted by the Federal Bank.

  • The award was announced by Nandakumar V, Executive Vice President & Head - Branch Banking.

Federal Bank

  • Founder of Federal Bank: K.P. Hormis

  • Federal Bank Headquarters: Aluva (Kerala)

  • Federal Bank CEO: Shyam Srinivasan


Think-20 group meeting concludes in Bhopal

Tags: Summits National News

A two-day meeting of the Think-20 group was organised under the G-20 on 16-17 January 2023 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Think-20 was launched by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

An Overview of the news

  • Under the Think-20 grouping of the G-20, the overarching theme of the meeting is "Global Good Governance with an Environment-Friendly Lifestyle, Moral Values and Well-Being".

  • A program of two plenary sessions and round table meetings was organised on the topics to be taken up in Think-20.

  • In the first plenary session, the topic 'Role of Triangular Cooperation in Localization of SDGs' was discussed, while in the second plenary session, the topic 'New Complementaries in Trade and Value Chains' was discussed.

  • Along with this, a round table meeting was also organised on 'Global South and Global Governance for Life'.

  • After the conclusion of the meeting on January 17, the representatives of the G20 countries visited the world-famous tourist destination Sanchi in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.


Retired DG of BSF Pankaj Kumar Singh appointed Deputy National Security Adviser

Tags: Person in news

Retired director general of the Border Security Force (BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh was appointed on 17 January as the Deputy National Security Adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat for a period of two years.

An overview of the news

  • Pankaj Kumar Singh, a 1988 batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed on re-employment contract. He retired as the BSF chief on December 31, 2022.

  • He had earlier served as Inspector General of CRPF in Chhattisgarh and IG (Operations) at CRPF Headquarters in Delhi.

  • He also worked in BSF before becoming BSF DG.

  • As head of the Eastern Frontier, he played a key role in reducing cattle smuggling through the borders of West Bengal and Assam.

  • There has been an 87% decline in cattle smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border between 2015 and 2021.

  • He was also instrumental in demonstrating motorcycle riding acrobatics to women soldiers of the BSF at the Republic Day parade.

  • His father Prakash Singh, a retired 1959 batch IPS officer, also headed the BSF from June 1993 to January 1994.

  • Pankaj Singh is considered the architect of police reforms in the country.

  • National Security Adviser - Ajit Doval


B-20 inception meeting to be organised in Gandhinagar from January 22

Tags: National News

As part of India's G-20 chairmanship, a Business-20 (B-20) founding meeting will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from January 22 to 24.

An overview of the news

  • The main program of the B-20 Founding Meeting prepared by the B-20 India Secretariat in accordance with the theme of the conference "R.A.I.S.E: Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable and Equitable Businesses".

  • The meeting will be held to prepare policy recommendations to be presented to the G20 ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit.

  • This will be the first of 15 events that the other country is set to host as part of India's G20 presidency.

  • The opening ceremony of the B-20 founding meeting will be attended by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnav, state Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, India's Sherpa to G-20 Amitabh Kant and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.

  • The inaugural meeting will be participated by more than 150 policy-makers, business executives, CEOs and senior executives representing enterprises from G-20 countries.

Issues to be discussed

  • Climate change,

  • Digital collaboration across borders in times of wars and pandemics,

  • Sustainable and flexible value chain,

  • Innovation among netizens,

  • Financial Inclusion to Empower Communities in Different Socio-Economic Conditions


Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns amid allegations of corruption and scandals

Tags: Person in news International News

Vietnam's President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has submitted his resignation on January 17 after the ruling Communist Party found him responsible for corruption, scandals and wrongdoings.

An overview of the news

  • The anti-corruption campaign has led to the sacking of several ministers in Vietnam.

  • Earlier, two deputy prime ministers who served under President Phuc had quit.

  • The resignation of the President requires approval from the National Assembly.

  • Former Prime Minister Phuc had assumed the office of President from 2021.

  • Phuc, 69, served as Vietnam's prime minister from 2016 until April 2021, when he was elected president.

  • Vietnam is a country with single party rule and any political changes are very carefully managed for political stability and continuity.

  • However, it is not clear who will be the new President.

About Vietnam

  • It lies in South East Asia and it is a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)

  • Capital: Hanoi

  • Currency: Dong


India-South Korea holds 5th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue

Tags: International Relations International News

Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), made an official visit to South Korea and co-chaired the 5th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) with his Korean counterpart Cho Hyundong.

An overview of the news

  • During the two-day talks that ended on January 17, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, security and defence, science and technology as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

  • India and South Korea agreed to work to make global supply chains more resilient and robust.

  • Both the countries agreed to take bilateral trade to US$ 50 billion by 2030 from an all-time high of US$ 28 billion at present.

  • Both sides also discussed opportunities for cooperation in new and emerging technologies.

  • India has offered investment to Korean companies in manufacturing, infrastructure and other sectors.

About South Korea

  • South Korea is a country located in East Asia that is known as the 'Land of Quiet Mornings'.

  • The Korean peninsula was divided into communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Republic of Korea (South Korea) after the Korean War in 1953.

  • The nation's capital, Seoul, is the world's second largest metropolitan area and a major global city.

  • North Korea is the only country bordering this country.

  • Martial arts Taekwondo originated in Korea.

  • President- Yoon Suk-yol

  • Currency- South Korean won


Indian Army organises Cyber Threat Seminar cum Workshop "Sayanya Ran Kshetram 2.0"

Tags: Defence

The Indian Army, under the HQ Army Training Command, organised the second edition of Hackathon - “Sannya Rankshetram 2.0” from October 2022 to January 2023.

  • "Sayanya Ran Kshetram 2.0" aims to identify indigenous talent in the field and raise the level of training in the areas of cyber deterrence, security software coding, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Was.

  • This cyber threat seminar cum workshop was organised under four sub-programmes. This includes the following activities:-

  • Secure Software Coding - The objective was to engage with academia to identify talent capable of securing software programs and meeting cyber security needs in software code.

  • ESMO: Indian Army Specific Stack Optimized for Wi-Fi 6 - The objective of this sub-program was to explore a solution with respect to implementing the Indian Army specific version of the secure Wi-Fi stack to enhance the level of security .

  • Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning - This subprogram helped build an AI stack to address the conversion and decryption of multilingual radio transmissions.

Cyber Nivaran: Capture the Flag (CTF) - This was a seven stage cyber security exploit challenge to identify talent to strengthen the existing cyber security regime.

“Virasat” – Handloom Home Decor Festival

Tags: National News

The Ministry of Textiles will organise a special handloom exhibition “VIRASAT” - from 20-30 January 2023 at Handloom Haat, New Delhi to showcase home decor products made from handlooms.

News Overview

  • The special handloom saree exhibition “Virasat” – a celebration of 75 handwoven sarees of India was organised by the Ministry of Textiles in two phases from 16 to 30 December and 3 to 17 January 2023 at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi.

  • The Sari Mahotsav was inaugurated by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 16 December 2022.

  • In which 160 participants from different parts of the country displayed famous hand made sarees.

  • A social media campaign was also launched on the occasion under a common hashtag #MySariMyPride to support handloom weavers.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second phase of Sansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23

Tags: Sports News National News

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the second phase of Sansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23 organised in Basti (Uttar Pradesh) district through conferencing on 18 January 2023.

  • Sansad Khel Mahakumbh is being organised from the year 2021 by Mr. Harish Dwivedi, Lok Sabha MP from Basti.

  • The first phase of Sansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23 was organised from December 10 to December 16, 2022 and the second phase will be organised from January 18 to January 28, 2023.

  • Both indoor and outdoor sports events like Wrestling, Kabaddi, Kho Kho, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Volleyball, Handball, Chess, Carrom, Badminton, Table Tennis etc. are organised during Sansad Khel Mahakumbh.

  • Apart from this, competitions for essay writing, painting, making Rangoli etc. are also organised.

  • The objective of this unique initiative is to provide an opportunity and platform to the youth of Basti district and surrounding areas to showcase their sporting talent and also motivate them to take up sports as a career option.

  • Through this, efforts are also being made to inculcate discipline, team spirit, healthy competition, self-confidence and sense of nationalism among the youth of the region.


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